(Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Öyster Cult (1976) 4K UHD

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was released on Blue Öyster Cult's fourth studio album, Agents of Fortune, in the spring of 1976. The song was released as a single in July of the summer of '76. The song made it to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....(in the long list of songs that shoulda made #1, this tune has got to be in the very top of that list!) It was of course the biggest hit the band ever had and grew to classic stature in a few short years...where it shall remain. A stone classic for the rock ages!

I made a video for this song years ago when I knew even less about making videos than I do today, and it for the last 5 or 6 years it's one of three old autumn-time videos that I keep promising to finish for a Halloween upload (Cheap Trick's "Gonna Raise Hell" and Rush's "Witch Hunt" are the other two)...every year I fail to get one done. So very happy to finally have probably the worst of those early offenders uploaded with new effects and high resolution audio (yeah, Youtube compression and all (though I'm among those who swear that if you play the video in HD, the audio sounds very much better than most compressed sources...who knows?)....but one day, maybe high resolution audio will be available. That will be a great day for Youtube and music fans.

I checked out three high resolution versions; including a great sounding vinyl version, but I favored this one sourced from a rip from my old Super Audio CD in 176Khz/24bit.

Even though I got the video done Halloween evening, I really wish I'd had more time to limit the styles some...I was going in about 3 different directions, but ended up just smashing it all together. I'm pretty happy with the result, and at least maybe it won't get as mixed up as the last one by having the audio removed, then allowed, then removed, constant changes to the restrictions for viewing, etc. The one seems to have finally stabilized somewhat (but the damage was done and it's basically nearly non-existent as far as Youtube rankings). Maybe you guys can help this one float and not sink to the bottom? As always, it's up to you guys to keep it alive.

I hope you enjoy the show....what a song, it deserves a full studio production, but it got my home computer giving her all she's got! LOL! Happy Halloween 2020...who needs costumes....especially in the USA. ;-)

[Lyrics]
All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain, we can be like they are
Come on baby, don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand, don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly, don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity, Romeo and Juliet
40, 000 men and women everyday, Like Romeo and Juliet
40, 000 men and women everyday, Redefine happiness
Another 40, 000 coming everyday, We can be like they are
Come on baby, don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand, don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly, don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared, saying don't be afraid
Come on baby, and she had no fear
And she ran to him, then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodbye, she had become like they are
She had taken his hand, she had become like they are
Come on baby, don't fear the reaper

[thelovefund]

Once again, pure genius! Big fan of "UFO - Love to Love" by MetalGuruMessiah. I beat the reaper, in stopped smoking 14 years ago, Halloween at 12 midnight. I did it for my Labrador Horizon, for a selfish act to die and her wondering where i am on this CRAZY PLANET. To reach this far, watching this video with my 2 year old son....is excellent!! Don't fear the reaper.... We'll all meet again Orion, Horizon and Rachel Alexis. Rock on.... Daddy loves you!!

[kathleenhensley]

It's meaning changes now I am in my 70s... far more intimate. Lost my husband to cancer 4 yrs ago... I saw him leave. It hurt so much. Before he died he asked me to swear I wouldn't follow him until all the days of my life were over...he didn't want me to die of grief, so I live, bearing the grief. Just be there, at my death bed. Take my hand, sweetie, when my time is over, and we will fly to eternity, together.

[themadinspector]

1974, I was 12 or 13 years old. This was the best music!

[timmack]

One of the all time great songs. I grew up in NYC and Blue Oyster Cult was a bunch of local guys who made appearances under an assumed name (Soft White Underbelly) at local clubs back in the late 70s-80's. I've met them several times over the years.

[jimtipton]

The old Boone St. Barn in Spokane WA, November 28, 1976. I was 17. Started off the encore with DFTR accompanied by a laser light show. One of my all time favorite concerts. Definitely one of my all time favorite songs. It aged well!

[musicstewart]

More cowbell 😉(“Oh lord, someone had to bring that up, didn’t they?”)

[SMtWalkerS]

Wow, incredible video! Just beautiful. Love the Romeo and Juliet images.

[msh]

It doesn't matter if we turn to dust. Turn and turn and turn we must.
- BOC
"Dancing In The Ruins"

[Ryansghost]

This is one of my funeral songs. Love it.

[redriver]

I wonder (yes I'm dark like that....) how many people have done the self forever sleep while listening to this song? I'd probably say....lots.

[michaelnorman]

"Explore the space, i like what i'm hearing." :)

[anngonzalez]

Sounds even more exciting hearing this again l ❤it so remarkable to hear

[periurban]

Very nice work for one of my favourite songs! The dancing skeletons fading into the people dancing. I've seen BOC several times live, and this would be great as a back projection for the song.

[zuider]

This is genius. Excellent. Superb. And a ton of other superlatives.

[redriver]

Damn I love this mother introduced me to the BOC way back in the 80s when I was a they still stop me in my tracks to this been gone 26 years I still get to be with her through our music.

Oh yeh man.... That was a f'n fantastic job on the video.... Excellent work Thanks for sharing it.

[vlfriscia]

Why did I just find you? Your Merlin's Time video is incredible, and I see you have a wealth of others for me to explore. LOVE BOC and this song is one of my iPhone ringtones I discovered BOC with the first album in 1972. Burnin' for You is one of my favorites, too. Admittedly, it doesn't have the gravitas of this song, but they were sure an interesting, quirky band then, and now. Happy to be a new subscriber. Don't apologize for your older vids. From what I've seen so far, they are amazing.

[michaelbaucom]

MGM--- 11 out of 10, as always. Great sound too, ty

[MysticRhythmsLive]

I knew that you had produced this one a long time ago, and I loved that one for what you did with it. With this one, you've truly knocked the ball out of the stadium, Jon! This must have taken a lot of time, thought, and effort to produce. Incredible. What else can I say? Thumbs up, bro! Take care and stay safe. ~ Dan 🤘🏽

[IWASBINDCANTUC]

Just fantastic thank you for posting : very best regards from York UK.

[ericvandenelsen]

Wonderful classic, cool and historical guitar-riff. This song was always my cheap therapy against fear of death. Good job with the clip, love it, a lot!